A Centreville man is being held on $1 million for allegedly abusing two children and raping one of them, and a McComb woman faces other charges in the case, McComb police said.
Chief Detective Victoria Carter said police were called to the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center emergency room on Tuesday in response of a report of child abuse.
Hospital personnel told officer that a boy and a girl came in with bruising and marks on their bodies. Both of the children were transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Joseph Lawrence Johnson, 19 has been charged with two counts each of felonious infliction of physical injury upon a vulnerable person and gratification of lust against a vulnerable person and a count of rape. Destiny Kiara Nowell, 21 of McComb, was charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency or neglect of child.
Judge Jwon Nathaniel ordered Johnson held on $1 million bond during a hearing in city court Thursday morning. Nowell was ordered held on $200,000 bond.
